On vector and matrix Riemann-Hilbert problems for KdV shock waves

This paper discusses some general aspects and techniques associated with the long-time asymptotics of steplike solutions of the Korteweg-de Vries (KdV) equation via vector Riemann--Hilbert problems. We also elaborate on an ill-posedness of the matrix Riemann-Hilbert problems for the KdV case. To the best of our knowledge this is the first time such ill-posedness is discussed in applications of Riemann--Hilbert theory. Furthermore, we rigorously justify the asymptotics for the shock wave in the elliptic zone derived previously.